Short Description
The Russian violet is a small, perennial plant with a fragrant scent.
The leaves form a rosette at the base of the plant. They are broadly heart-shaped (cordiform), pointed or rounded. They are also finely toothed and hairy.
It has no stem. The flowers emerge directly from the rootstock.
The flowers are blue or purple with a distinct white centre and a short, thick spur.
The fruit is blunt, hairy and lies on the ground.
Features
Russian violet
Viola suavis
blue or purple flowers with white centre
no stem
smells
In the city
The Russian violet grows in sparse forests and under bushes. It is lime-loving and occurs scattered to very rarely.
Fun Facts
The flowering period is from March to April.
The blue violet spreads gradually and builds large stands. However, the fruits are also spread by ants.
- Endangerment level Germany: not evaluated
The blue violet is not native to Germany and thus belongs to the non-native plants (neophytes).
At the end of the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century it was popular in gardens. However, fashion, wars, a virus and its sensitivity to frost resulted in hardly any varieties being available. Only recently has it become possible to propagate healthy plants again.
Sources
Blüte, HermannSchachner, CC0 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viola_suavis_(Hecken-Veilchen)_IMG_3261.JPG
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Habitus, HermannSchachner, CC0 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viola_suavis_(Hecken-Veilchen)_IMG_3257.JPG
_IMG_3257.JPG){kind=link}
Blatt, Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viola_suavis_sl20.jpg
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (n.d.) Artensteckbriefe, URL: http://floraweb.de/pflanzenarten/artenhome.xsql?suchnr=6395& (Accessed: 24.09.2018).
Seitz, B., Ristow, M., Meißner, J., Machatzi, B. & Sukopp, H. (2018) Rote Liste und Gesamtartenliste der etablierten Farn- und Blütenpflanzen von Berlin. : Der Landesbeauftragte für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege / Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Klima und Verkehr (eds.) Rote Listen der gefährdeten Pflanzen, Pilze und Tiere von Berlin, URL: https://www.berlin.de/sen/uvk/natur-und-gruen/naturschutz/artenschutz/artenlisten-rote-listen/farn-und-bluetenpflanzen/ (Accessed: 26.03.2021).
Info Flora (2004-2018) Viola suavis M. Bieb., URL: https://www.infoflora.ch/de/flora/viola-suavis.html (Accessed: 24.09.2018).
Höcker, R. (n.d.) Die Gattung Viola in Nordostbayern, URL: http://www.flora.uni-bayreuth.de/Kurzvortrag/Veilchen07-04-21.pdf (Accessed: 24.09.2018).
Naturschutzbund Burgenland (n.d.) Viola suavis. Hecken-Veilchen, URL: http://burgenlandflora.at/pflanzenart/viola-suavis/ (Accessed: 24.09.2018).
Nationalpark Donau-Auen (2011-2018) Hecken-Veilchen, Blaues Veilchen - Viola suavis, URL: https://www.donauauen.at/nature/flora/herbs/hecken-veilchen-blaues-veilchen/772 (Accessed: 24.09.2018).